Reading fiction is not that dissimilar from watching a movie in your brain. The ways in which audio-visual consumption of fiction and reading fiction diverge is in their demand on engagement – when reading I must learn new words, I struggle to find meaning, I use my imagination, I slowly strengthen understanding – I meet books more than half-way in my mind’s eye.

Movies and television, in contrast, demand less engagement from the viewer – much of the vision and interpretation is handed (or forced) on the audience. As popular movies and TV demand less, they also seem more apt to acquiesce to popular whim – mirroring the culture that consumes them rather than challenging it. The level of engagement demanded by audio-visual entertainment is also subject to a shifting baseline – that is, it’s gotten less challenging over time.

This is not a knock on all television and movies as a form of art. Often television, movies, and documentaries are the perfect medium to convey a particular message. Also, there are many movies and television programs which are, in fact, very challenging to their audience in addition to being very enjoyable.

Also, it is noteworthy that I tend to read mass-market crap – the book-equivalent of high-fructose corn syrup. I’ve come to terms with this fact. I read some crap, I read some good things, occasionally I’ll read a few great (and nominally “great”) things. I end up with a greater sense of accomplishment and satisfaction from reading crap rather than watching crap – YMMV.

This is a long way of saying – I think that reading is a Good Thing™ and I want to do more of it. To enforce more of a habit, I set reading goals for myself at the start of each year. In 2015 I wanted to read a book a month. In 2016 I wanted to read 2 books a month. In both 2015 and 2016 my grasp has exceeded my reach – which is not how goals are supposed to work.